1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C3 - Our New C3 Project Vehicle

Having always thought early C3 Stingrays represented the epitome of muscle-car-era Corvette performance and styling, I took the bait from Editor Heath as he encouraged me to purchase a '71 coupe to build as a project vehicle for VETTE magazine.

As automotive enthusiasts, we often find ourselves segregated into a certain brand or model of vehicle for one reason or another. For this author, being infected with the performance-automotive disease began in 1974 while riding in a schoolmate's father's '68 426 Hemi-equipped Plymouth Road Runner. Granted, the Road Runner braked and cornered like a dump truck, but in terms of straight-line acceleration, I remember being pinned in the seat as he rowed the gears of the four-speed transmission, feeling like I was aboard a rocket-powered test sled at NASA. It was that initial memory from my sixth year that ignited my passion for building and racing powerful muscle cars. Even while enjoying a rewarding career managing an aircraft-charter service and flying corporate jets worldwide, my real passion was racing and restoring collector vehicles.

3/24

Between writing and, well, editing, Editor Heath took the opportunity to encourage my purchase of a C3 Stingray. It didn't take much persuasion, as the body style has always been one of my favorites.

Though my automotive endeavors have generally involved Chrysler products, I've always held the Corvette in high regard. Stereotypes aside, Corvette owners have been fortunate to enjoy a car ahead of its time in terms of performance, and Corvettes new and old are well-rounded automobiles for those of us who enjoy aggressive driving. So having always held an affection for the sexy, aerodynamically muscular lines of the C3, it took little prodding from Editor Jay Heath to encourage me to purchase a Stingray and upgrade the car in the pages of VETTE. While all Corvettes exude the image of high performance, the C3 is the first of the Corvettes that really looks aerodynamic. Additionally, the chrome front and rear bumpers of the pre-'73 models hint at the nostalgia of a time when cars were built from more-substantive materials. So with my decision made, I enthusiastically began searching for a '68 to '72 Stingray project vehicle.

4/24

In addition to networking and checking Internet auction and classified sites, I attended the Imperial classic-car auction to look for a suitable C3. This '73 model was a decent car, but preferring the look of front and rear chrome bumpers, I declined to bid.

Selecting an appropriate magazine project vehicle presents several obvious dilemmas. While landing an L88 or ZR-1 Stingray would certainly be nice, the hate mail we'd get for doing anything but restoring such a vehicle would negate its purpose. As a magazine project, this car will serve as a testbed for parts, and any semblance to a factory Corvette will soon be lost. Since the car will likely be modified with huge brakes, aftermarket suspension components, and an upgraded drivetrain, it just makes sense to start with a car that isn't a high-value collectible. Additionally, having the numbers-matching engine isn't important, since we'll likely modify or swap it during the course of this project. With these criteria in mind, I put the word out to my co-workers, friends, and fellow enthusiasts that I was in the market for a non-numbers-matching, early C3. I also began watching Craig's list, eBay, and other Internet classified sites for potential deals and to get a feel for the market.

5/24

When the bidding was over, the '73 Stingray sold for just over $10,000. Though nice, I deemed the price too steep for a car that would likely be highly modified in the pages of VETTE.

As a side effect of the tumultuous economic state of our country, Corvette prices (as well as the prices of most collector cars) are all over the map. Tracking down a lead from the owner of the shop who performs most of my paint work, I discovered a '68 convertible basket case located in the next town, only to find that the car had sold some three weeks earlier. As an alternative, I attended the Imperial Auto Auction classic-car event in Polk County, Florida, but the only somewhat suitable Corvette, a '73 model with the rear chrome bumper, brought more than I was willing to spend on a car that needed substantial work.

MORE PHOTOS

VIEW FULL GALLERY

xclose

1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C3 - Our New C3 Project Vehicle

Having always thought early C3 Stingrays represented the epitome of muscle-car-era Corvette performance and styling, I took the bait from Editor Heath as he encouraged me to purchase a '71 coupe to build as a project vehicle for VETTE magazine.

Between writing and, well, editing, Editor Heath took the opportunity to encourage my purchase of a C3 Stingray. It didn't take much persuasion, as the body style has always been one of my favorites.

In addition to networking and checking Internet auction and classified sites, I attended the Imperial classic-car auction to look for a suitable C3. This '73 model was a decent car, but preferring the look of front and rear chrome bumpers, I declined to bid.

When the bidding was over, the '73 Stingray sold for just over $10,000. Though nice, I deemed the price too steep for a car that would likely be highly modified in the pages of VETTE.

This low-mileage, later-model C3 was also at the auction, but was a no-sale at $3,200. The economy really has Corvette prices all over the place, as a couple of years ago this car would easily have brought twice that, or more.

My last C3 option at the classic car auction was this '81 model, but it was really in too-nice condition to become a project car. As a newer model with an automatic transmission, this car really wasn't what I was looking for, so I again refrained from bidding.

Internet auction and classified sites are another good way to find a project vehicle. Much like real-estate comparables determine the value of a home, we've always considered eBay sales to be a good indicator of classic car values. Of course eBay is worldwide, so the cost of transportation must be factored into the price.

Prior to bidding on any collector car, it pays to do some research. By referencing Mike Antonick's Corvette Black Book, we learned the rarity of certain cars we were considering. Additionally, we learned that the '71 C3s had the lightest curb weight of any early C3 Stingray.

After two weeks or more of chasing down leads, attending the auto auction, and searching the Internet, we scored a deal on this '71 Stingray coupe, purchasing it from a seller on eBay for just under $5,600. As a non-numbers-matching small-block car, this Corvette is ideally suited to be modified in the pages of VETTE.

Eager to see the new project, I hooked up the car trailer and headed to Chesterfield, Virginia, to seal the deal. During the 12-hour road trip, I saw several Vettes on Interstate 95, and even gave this guy the "Corvette wave." (He ignored me, obviously not recognizing me as a bona fide member of the clique. Once I get the new project underway, maybe I'll get some respect as a Corvette owner!)

After a quick inspection to ensure the car was what the seller claimed, we quickly sealed the deal, signed the title, loaded up our new Vette, and strapped it down for the ride home. The seller was genuinely sad to see the car go, and he even included several boxes of extra parts to help us get started on the project.

After 11 hours on the road, I was happy to arrive in the state of Virginia, where my purchase was located. Remember to factor the cost of transportation into any car you purchase out of state. While we could have paid to have this car brought to us, it made more sense economically to get it ourselves, especially since we have a suitable truck and trailer.

We had nearly made it home with our purchase when the injector pump on the truck quit working. Fortunately, we were close enough to home to call friend and diesel mechanic Tod Struck of Inline Performance, who came by and had us back on the road in about an hour.

Arriving home, we finally got to enjoy the moment we'd been waiting for-pulling the Stingray out of the trailer for an initial evaluation. Though our inspection did reveal a couple of issues that would keep us from driving the car immediately, we were pleasantly surprised at the condition of our purchase.

Though showing its age, the interior of our project is at least presentable, with new carpet and door panels, a new dash pad, and leather seats. We'll have to do something about the seats, though, as their red color obviously doesn't match the rest of the cockpit.

We're glad we resisted the temptation to drive this car immediately, as our once-over revealed a leaky fuel line with improper clamps. This could have led to a catastrophic end for our new project had it gone unnoticed.

At some point, the car's front end was switched to an aftermarket unit with no headlight doors or chrome bumper. The paint is also faded and covered in overspray. This will be corrected with a new paintjob, but for now we'll try to at least clean it up and make it presentable.

Placing the car on the lift, we discovered the underside to be in great shape, with new suspension bushings, brakes, and exhaust. Mechanically, we were surprised at what we got for our money, and we'd venture to guess that the previous owner had considerably more than our purchase price invested in this car.

The storage-compartment doors are intact, and even wear the original tire-pressure and jack-instruction decals. The hinges will need some work before the doors can be reinstalled, however.

Of course, one of the first things we did was give this neglected Stingray a bath, which helped its appearance somewhat. Next month we'll give our new project a thorough mechanical evaluation, making repairs and servicing the car prior to putting it on the road. Stay tuned to future issues as we transform this second-hand car into a first-rate performer!

COMMENTS

related articles

Check out the latest on our Corvette C3 project vehicle. This month, we upgraded our C3's cooling system! Check out the brand new cooling system along with step by step instructions on the installation process. Check out the details and pictures at Vette Magazine. » Read More

This 1969 Chevy Camaro is a custom musclecar with immaculate classic looks and a powerful supercharged Brodix small-block Chevy engine as well as upgraded brakes and suspension - Super Chevy Magazine » Read More